LAKERS NOTEBOOK: L.A. looking for road reversal

The Lakers seem like the perfect candidates for the latest Southwest Airlines' "Wanna Get Away?" commercial.

The Lakers (9-12) have lost seven of their past 10 games and remain in 11 th place in the Western Conference. They rank 29 th out of 30 NBA teams in turnovers (16.33), last in free throws (67.8 percent) and 29 th in bench production (averaging 23.9 points per game).

The Lakers won't need to cash in on any airline promotions since they have their own plane. But they believe their four-game trip this week against Cleveland (tonight), New York (Thursday), Washington (Friday) and Philadelphia (Sunday) will spark a turnaround.

There's one problem. The Lakers have a 2-6 road record, including a 1-2 stand on last week's three-game trip.

"We were just away from L.A," center Dwight Howard said. "It doesn't matter where we play. Teams will come out and give us their best shot."

Regardless of the venue, the Lakers haven't given much of anything.

The Lakers' 117-110 loss Sunday to the Utah Jazz dropped the team's home record to 7-6. It also marked the team's third defeat in the past four games at Staples Center.

The Lakers fare worse on the road.

Every player outside of Kobe Bryant has dipped in points production between home and road games. The most egregious offenders include Howard (19.1 points per game at home, 17.3 on the road) and Pau Gasol (13.8 points per game at home, 9.6 points on the road). Bryant's scoring average from home to road games increases from 27.1 points per game to 31.1. But the Lakers are 1-9 when Bryant scores at least 30 points.

"You're better on the road because you're away from the pressure," he said. "You're all together. You're all eating together. You're practicing together. You're talking together.

"To me, this will be the time if we're going to do it."

Taking the heat

D'Antoni questioned the Lakers' inconsistent effort, but he also blamed himself for the team's 4-7 record during his watch.

"I have a bad knee and have a hard time getting up and down," D'Antoni said. "But it's my responsibility to get them to the mentality where they're playing hard."

Keeping it light

The difference between embattled Mike Brown and D'Antoni reflects how they treat the team's practice schedule. During Brown's 11 days on staff this season, the Lakers had one day off. Through 26 days under D'Antoni, the Lakers have had six.

The Lakers traveled on three of those days, and one of those entailed the team having the day off for Thanksgiving before flying in the early evening. Beyond wanting his veteran team to rest so it can play at a faster pace, D'Antoni said his schedule partly reflects Steve Nash's absence because of a fractured left leg.

"When Steve comes back, we have to expect to practice more," D'Antoni said. "I don't want to practice more now and then take off when he comes back. "